Delhi HC asks Centre to consider plea for body-worn cameras for police managing protests, crowd
The Delhi High Court has directed the Indian government to consider a petition mandating 'always-on' body-worn cameras for police during crowd control and protests. The court aims to address concerns regarding police accountability and the use of excessive force.
Why it matters
The case highlights the ongoing global debate over police transparency, the use of surveillance technology, and the protection of civil liberties during public demonstrations.
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday (October 7, 2026) asked the Centre to consider a representation a petition seeking standard operating procedures for police and rapid action force personnel to use ‘always-on’ body-worn cameras during crowd-control and protest-management duties.
The court asked the government to communicate its decision to the petitioner within six months, while disposing of the public interest litigation (PIL).
The court was hearing the PIL, filed by advocate Chahat Raghav, seeking direction for constitution of an expert committee to formulate a binding SOP, making the use of body-worn cameras mandatory and continuous (always-on) for every member of Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force deployed on crowd-control, protest-management or dispersal duty, from the commencement of deployment until stand-down.
The plea also sought a comprehensive regime governing the storage, integrity, retention and evidentiary use of footage recorded through such cameras.
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